Inside Japan’s Post-COVID Gyms

How Gyms Reopened in Japan, & What You May Expect in the U.K.

So, Boris finally made the announcement.

Gyms in the U.K. were officially set to reopen on 25th July—and for some of you, that probably felt like the biggest sigh of relief you’d taken all year. Resistance bands and 4kg kettlebells can finally be shoved back into the cupboard where they belong, because let’s be honest… none of us really liked them that much anyway.

Gyms here in Japan reopened earlier, on the 1st of June. Experiencing it first-hand has been equal parts interesting and surreal, mainly because of the measures they’ve put in place. So, if you’re wondering what your local gym might look like when doors reopen back home, here’s a realistic preview.

Here’s what stood out most:

1. “Please consider not using our facilities if your temperature is over 37.5°C.”
   Which is basically the Japanese way of politely telling you to p*ss off.

2. Temperature checks & hand sanitiser at the door.
   A member of staff greets you, takes your temperature, writes it down, and then watches you sanitise your hands. Simple. Non-negotiable.

3. Anti-bacterial spray everywhere.
   I counted twelve bottles spread around the gym. And honestly, now that I think about it, most gyms I trained at in the U.K. didn’t even have one before all this. Kinda gross in hindsight.

4. Anti-bacterial wipes in massive buckets.
   I counted four of them. No excuses now.

5. Social distancing markers on benches.
   Some gyms use them as a guide so the bench stays perfectly centred (surprisingly useful). Others use them as a strict marker so distancing can actually be enforced.

6. Plastic sheets between cardio machines.
   Self-explanatory… although I won’t lie, it initially felt like I’d walked into an episode of Black Mirror.

And finally—the big one.

You must wear a mask for your entire workout.

No exceptions.

If there’s one thing this experience has taught me, it’s that I’ll never take training without a mask covering my mouth and nose for granted again. Maybe soon, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

That said, I also imagine it’s something I’ll get used to eventually—whether I like it or not.

If you want to make your return to the gym as smooth as possible, I’ve put together a few free downloadable PDFs, including a full-body workout template you can use straight away.

Click here to grab it.

Enjoy the return—and let me know how you find it.

Speak soon,
Leo